Needle oil



United States Patent NEEDLE OIL Elmer W. Brennan, Carpentersville, and John N. Bowden, Crystal Lake, 111., assignors to The Pure Oil Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Ohio No-Drawing. Application November 17, 1954 Serial No. 469,537

4 Claims. (Cl. 252-375) This invention relates to the lubrication of textile machinery. It is specifically concerned with a compounded needle oil for use in the lubrication of knitting machine needles.

In the manufacture of cloth from natural or synthetic filaments one of the manufacturing techniques employed is knitting wherein knitted fabrics are formed by interlacing a single yarn or thread in a series of loops by means of needles. The fabric may be knitted in either a fiat, or a tubelike cloth by means of circular or fiat knitting machines. 'In each instance, the needles which form the series of loops are reciprocatively mounted in a needle bar installed on the knitting machine. To facilitate their operation, the needles are lubricated by a needle oil which is applied directly to the needles by suitable means such as a lubricant-saturated felt or a spray applicator. The needle oil is primarily a lubricant for the knitting needles. However, it must be formulated to meet the requirements of the particular service in which it is being used. Because of the environment in which the lubricant is employed it is necessary that the oil possess a number of additional characteristics in addition to lubricity. For example, the needle oil must provide rust protection for the needles. It must have a low surface tension and have a high resistance to oxidation. In addition, the compounded oil must have good scourability in order that any oil which is retained on the fabric after the knitting process may be readily removed.

Filaments, such as threads or yarns, fed to the knitting machines are generally pretreated with a composition having cohesive properties which, inter alia, increases the natural strength of the fabric and gives it temporary protection during the knitting process. This composition, which is known as sizing, also functions to:

Prevent abrasion during winding and twisting, Provide pliability and softness,

Provide protection forthe filaments,

Provide protection from changes in humidity, Provide a means to hold or set the twist.

After the knitting operation the sizing is removed by design in a desizing operation, or, incidentally, during further processing of the knitted cloth, as, for example, in a dye bath. In the formulation of sizes, polyvinyl alcohols are frequently used. One conventional method of synthesizing polyvinyl alcohols involves the hydrolysis of polyvinyl acetate. As a result the properties of the polyvinyl alcohol is governed by the degrees of polymerization and hydrolysis. The partially or completely hydrolyzed grades may be used on fibers such as viscose and cotton, whereas the less absorbent, smooth-surfaced filaments such as acetate and nylon require the use of the partially hydrolyzed grades. For example, one widely used composition known as PM-9O contains 90.4% water, 8.0% low viscosity, partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol and 1.6% boric acid. While these polyvinyl-alcoholcontaining sizes function to improve the yarn or thread propertiesv and facilitate their. being knit into a fabric,

their use can lead to a decrease in the efliciency in the operation of knitting machinery due to their tendency to flake or dust during the knitting operation. This results in size build-up on the needles. The attendant abrasive effect produces end breakage of the threads or yarn, or tearing of the fabric, which slows down the production and produces fabrics susceptible to rejection.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a compounded lubricating oil which will function to effectively lubricate and provide rust protection for the needles employed in knitting machines. It is also an object of this invention to formulate a needle oil composition which has low surface tension, is resistant to oxidation, possesses good scourability and prevents build-up of polyvinylalcohol-containing sizing on the needles used in the manufacture of the fabric.

These and other objects will be made more apparent by the following detailed description of the instant invention.

It has been found that the objects of the instant invention may be elfectuated by the use of an oleaginous composition, preferably comprising a light mineral oil base, which has enhanced surface activity, andmoisture-rusting preventative characteristics, containing an oil-soluble sizeaccumulation inhibitor selected from the group of plasticizers for vinyl compounds, such as the acyclic and cyclic esters of phosphoric acids, dicarboxylic acids having 6 to 10 carbon atoms per molecule, mono-basic aliphatic acids having 8 to 18 carbon atoms per molecule, and others. a

The preferred oleaginous base material which is employed in the subject composition comprises a light mineral oil having a viscosity in the range of about 65 SUS to 150 SUS at 100 F. and preferably with a viscosity in the range of 90 SUS at F. The mineral oil may be derived from a paraffin, naphthene or mixed base crude oil which, upon being subjected to conventional or solvent refining techniques, will yield a lubricating oil fraction having the desired viscosity characteristics. The desired viscosities may be obtained by the use of single fractions, or blends of several different fractions. Lightcolored stocks, having an NPA color of about 1 /2, are preferred, in order to minimize the staining of the finished product. So-called synthetic lubricating oils having these properties may also be employed.

The refining processes employed in the production of mineral oils of these characteristics from various crude petroleum oils such as Van Zandt, Mid-Continent, and others, generally produce a light oil which has a natural, high resistance to oxidation. However, if mineral oils of this nature canont be readily obtained it may be necessary to supplement the mineral oil composition by the addition of a conventional oil-soluble oxidation inhibitor. This expedient is deemed necessary in such instances because compounded oils employed in the lubrication of automatically operated knitting needles are exposed to an environment conducive to oxidation. In view of the necessary characteristics of this compounded needle oil, it is obvious that the oxidation inhibitor to be employed preferably be clear in color to forestall any inadvertent staining of the finished fabric. Suitable inhibitors include but are not limited to phenyl betanaphthylamine, butyl dithiocarbamate, tetrarnethyldiaminodiphenylmethane, di-tertiary-butyl paracresol, trialkyl phosphites, and others.

Improvement in the surface activity of the mineral oil base, if necessary, may be obtained by the use of any oil-soluble, nonionic surface-active agent which will substantially reduce the interfacial tension of the compounded oil. It is preferred that a surface-active agent be employed which will reduce the interfacial tension of the composition to less than about 10 dynes/cm. Suit-. able materials which are satisfactory for this use include the oil-soluble products obtained by the condensation of fatty substances and their derivatives with ethylene oxide, as well as the oil-soluble products obtained by the condensation of phenolic compounds having side chains with ethylene oxide. Examples of nonionic agents which may be employed in the compounded oil include but are not limited to sorbitan trioleate, diethylene glycol stearate, diethylene glycol monolaurate, glyceryl monooleate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan tristearate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate, polyoxyethylene sorbitol laurate, polyoxyethylene sorbitol oleate-laurate, polyoxyethylene esters of mixed fatty and rosin acids, polyoxyethylene lauryl alcohol, polyoxyethylene sorbitol cotton seed oil derivative, polyoxyethylene sorbitan trilaurate, polyoxyethylene sorbitol esters of mixed fatty and rosin acids, etc. A number of the foregoing substances marketed under various marks may be obtained from the Atlas Powder Company. In this regard, reference is made to the brochure entitled Atlas Surface Active Agents, 1948, published by the Atlas Power Company.

Other oil-soluble surface-active agents which are applicable in carrying out the instant invention are the condensation products of ethylene oxide and an alkyl phenol. Such compounds, which. contain a plurality of ethenoxy groups of varying length, include Triton X100, Triton X45, etc., marketed by the Rohm & Haas Co.

The foregoing surface-active agents function not only to reduce the interfacial tension of the composition, thereby improving the distribution of the oil on the knitting needle, but also serve to improve the scourability of the composition, facilitating its removal from the knitted fabric.

In order to provide the necessary rust protection for the needles a conventional rust inhibitor is incorporated in the needle lubricant of this invention. Typical additive compositions utilized to combat moisture-rusting are the various metal soaps of high molecular weight fatty acids, esters of naphthenic acids or acids derived from the oxidation of petroleum fractions, degras or wool grease, or the sodium salts of petroleum sulfonic acids.

In the preparation of the composition of this invention the foregoing agents are added to the mineral oil base in order to impart the necessary functional characteristics to the compounded oil. However, in order to prepare a blended oil which will satisfactorily carry out the objectives of the instant invention, it is essential that an additive be employed which will function to prevent accumulation or build-up of size on the knitting needles. It has been found that size build-up can be prevented by the addition of a plasticizer for vinyl compounds. Included in this functional class are cyclic and acyclic esters selected from the group consisting of the esters of phosphorus acids, dibasic aliphatic and aromatic organic acids having 6 to carbon atoms per molecule, and monobasic aliphatic acids having 8 to 18 carbon atoms per molecule. The alkoxy substituent or substituents of the ester molecule should contain not more than about 10 carbon atoms per molecule. Prominent members of the various family groups include but are not limited to tricresyl phosphate, triphenyl phosphate, dibutyl phthalate, dicapryl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, di(2-methoxyethyl) phthalate, di(methyl Cellosolve) phthalate, dimethyl phthalate, di-(Z-ethylhexyl) phthalate, di-n-octyl phthalate, diisooctyl phthalate, octyl decyl phthalate, di(2-ethylhexyl adipate), diiso-octyl adipate, butyl oleate, glyceryl trioleate, dibutyl sebacate, di(2-ethylhexyl) sebacate, butyl stearate, glycol esters of ethylhexoic acid, pelargonic acid, and vegetable oil fatty acids, ricinoleic and acetylricinoleic acid esters such as methyl acetyl ricinoleate, butyl acetyl ricinoleate, and propylene glycol diacetyl ricinoleate.

Other illustrative examples of plasticizers include epoxidized fatty acid esters such as butyl epoxystearate,

glycidyl oleate, tributoxy ethyl phosphate, diethylene glycol dibenzoate, methyl pentachlorostearate, dioctyl tetrahydrophthalate. In general, 0.5 to 5.0% by weight, and preferably l-2% by weight, based on the total composition of vinyl plasticizer, will suffice to inhibit or mitigate the accumulation of polyvinyl alcohol-containing size. However, amounts outside this range may be used.

While separate additives may be employed to impart to the mineral oil each of the necessary characteristics, the instant invention may be carried out by taking advantage of the multifunctional characteristics of several of the foregoing additives. For example, sorbitan monooleate may be used to improve the rust preventative properties as well as substantially lower the interfacial tension; ditolyl phosphate, while functioning as a size accumulation inhibitor, will also serve to enhance the rust preventative properties of the compounded oil. These are only suggested multifunctional additives. Others will occur to those skilled in this art and will facilitate the blending of the subject needle oil.

A specific example of a composition of this invention which has given excellent performance in the lubrication of knitting needles is as follows:

Component: Amount, percent A neutral mineral lubricating oil having a viscosity of SUS at F. 98.45 Tricresyl phosphate 1.25 Oil-soluble polyoxyethylene lauryl alcohol 0.25 Zinc naphthenate (8% Zn) 0.05

ibobb Various tests characteristic of this particular composition are:

Other suitable compositions may be blended by using the following formulae:

Component: Amount, wt. percent Neutral mineral lubricating oil having a viscosity of 80 SUS at 100 F. 97.75

Tricresyl phosphate 2.00 Alkylphenolethylene oxide condensate v(Dispersant NI-O 0.25

Neutral mineral lubricating oil having a viscosity of 100 SUS at 100 F 98.20

Dimethyl phthalate 1.50 Alkylaryl polyether alcohol (Triton X-45 0.25 Zn Naphthenate (8% Zn) 0.05

Neutral mineral lubricating oil having a viscosity of 65 SUS at 100 F. 98.0 Methyl acctyl ricinoleate 1.5 Sorbitan oleate 0.5

The formulation of this invention provides a knitting needle oil which not only provides the necessary lubrication for the knitting needles but also protects them from rust and other corrosion. The compounded oil is oxidation resistant, has a low interfacial tension, good scourability for easy removal of the oil from the textile fabri nd pr vents polyvinyl-alcoholmontaining size;

from adhering to and accumulating upon the knitting needles, thereby eliminating the inimical efiects of size accumulation.

Accordingly, we claim as our invention:

1. A compounded knitting needle oil especially adaptable for use in the lubrication of machine-operated knitting needles in the knitting of yarn or thread pretreated with a polyvinyl alcohol-containing size into fabric, said oil consisting of a major portion of a petroleum oil having a viscosity of about 65-150 SUS 100 F. and small portions of (1) an oil-soluble rust inhibitor in an amount sufiicient to inhibit the moisture rusting of said needles, (2) an oil-soluble, non-ionic surface active agent in an amount suflicient to reduce the interfacial tension of the compounded oil to less than about 10 dynes/cm., and (3) about 05-50% by weight, based on total composition, of an oil-soluble, ester plasticizer for polyvinyl compounds selected from the group consisting of esters of phthalic acid containing no alkoxy substituent of more than carbon atoms, to prevent the accumulation of said size on said knitting needles.

2. A compounded knitting needle oil especially adaptable for use in the lubrication of machine-operated knitting needles in the knitting of yarn or thread pretreated with a polyvinyl alcohol-containing size into fabric, said oil consisting of a major portion of a petroleum oil having a viscosity of about 65-150 SUS 100 F. and small portions of (1) an oil-soluble, metal soap of a high molecular weight fatty acid rust inhibitor in an amount suflicient to inhibit the moisture rusting of said needles,

(2) an oil-soluble, non-ionic, surface active agent selected from the group consisting of polyoxyethylene esters and ethers in an amount sufficient to reduce the interfacial tension of the compounded oil to less than about 10 dynes/cm., and (3) about 05-50% by weight, based on total composition, of an oil-soluble, plasticizer for polyvinyl compounds selected from the group consisting of esters of phthalic acid containing no alkoxy substituent of more than 10 carbon atoms, to prevent the accumulation of said size on said knitting needles.

3. 'A needle oil in accordance with claim 1 in which the ester of phthalic acid is dioctyl phthalate.

4. A needle oil comprising neutral mineral lubricating oil in the amount of 98.20% by weight, 1.50% by weight of dirnethyl phthalate, 0.25% by weight of an alkylaryl polyether alcohol and 0.5% by weight of zinc naphthenate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,332,825 Zimmer Oct. 26, 1943 2,415,353 Johnston Feb. 4, 1947 2,446,944 Morgan Aug. 10, 1948 2,470,405 Leland May 17, 1949 2,677,700 Jackson May 4, 1954 2,690,426 Jefierson Sept. 28, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 694,425 Great Britain July 22, 1953 

1. A COMPOUNDED KNITTING NEEDLE OIL ESPECIALLY ADAPTABLE FOR USE IN THE LUBRICATION OF MACHINE-OPERATED KNITTING NEEDLES IN THE KNITTING OF YARN OR THREAD PRETREATED WITH A POLYVINYL ALCOHOL-CONTAINING SIZE INTO FABIRC, SAID OIL CONSISTING OF A MAJOR PORTION OF A PETROLEUM OIL HAVING A VISCOSITY OF ABOUT 65-150 SUS @ 100* F. AND SMALL PORTIONS OF (1) AN OIL-SOLUBLE RUST INHIBITOR IN AN AMOUNT SUFFICIENT TO INHIBIT THE MOISTURE RUSTING OF SAID NEEDLES, (2) AN OIL-SOLUBLE, NON-IONIC SURFACE ACTIVE AGENT IN AN AMOUNT SUFFICIENT TO REDUCE THE INTERFACIAL TENSION OF THE COMPOUNDED OIL TO LESS THAN ABOUT 10 DYNES/CM., AND (3) ABOUT 0.5-50% BY WEIGHT, BASED ON TOTAL COMPOSITION, OF AN OIL-SOLUBLE, ESTER PLASTICIZER FOR POLYVINYL COMPOUNDS SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF ESTERS OF PHTHALIC ACID CONTAINING NO ALKOXY SUBSTITUENT OF MORE THAN 10 CARBON ATOMS, TO PREVENT THE ACCUMULATION OF SAID SIZE ON SAID KNITTING NEEDLES. 